Combination-lock.



W. H. TAYLOR.

COMBINATION LOOK. APPLICATION IILED MAR. 21, 1908.

Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

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W TNESSES [NVENTOR I Attorney W- H. TAYLOR.

COMBINATION LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 21, 1908.

Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

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' INVENTOR I A Name WITNESSES UNITED STATES OFFICE.

WARREN H. TAYLOR, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE YALE & TOWNE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT.

COMBINATION-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1'7, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WARREN H. TAYLOR, of Stamford, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination-Locks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in combination locks the object being. to provide a lock with two independent sets of rotary tumblers, and a bolt common to both sets of tumblers, the connection between the bolt and bolt tumblers being such, as to permit the bolt to be actuated by either set of tumblers, and with this end in view my invention consists broadly in the parts and combinations of parts as will be more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a duplex locking mechanism embodying my invention, the face plate being removed. Fig. 2 is a view in cross section of the case showing the bolt in elevation and one of the fences in section. Fig. 3 is a view of one of the fences, and Fig. 4L is a View of the latter, its two members being separated.

1 and 2 represent the two sets of rotary tumblers, each set of which is actuated by a pinion on the dial spindle 3. The several tumblers of each set are alike, and are connected by pin and shoulder connection in the well known manner, whereby the second. tumbler receives its motion from the first, the third one from the second and so on throughout the series.

The particular lock with which my inven tion is illustrated, is a changeable combination lock in which the outer section of the tumblers may be engaged by a movable sleeve for moving said outer sections out of engagement with the inner sections combined with means for preventing said outer section from rotating, thus permitting the inner sections to be turned independently of the outer sections for changing the combination, as fully explained in my Patent No.

883,587 granted to me March 31, 1908, and

hence forms no part of the present invention. Each tumbler of each set is provided with a gate 4, and when the gates of the tumblers of one set are in line with the end of the arm 6 of its fence, permit said end to enter the gates so as to be engaged by the tumblers, the partial rotation of which, then operates to retract the bolt. When the gates are not in line, this end 5 of the fence 6, rests against the periphery of the tumblers and is pre* vented thereby from moving in a direction to retract the bolt, hence locks the bolt in its locking position. Each fence consists of an arm 6, having an end 5, enlarged sufliciently to engage the peripheries of the entire set of tumblers, and an arm '7 the free end 8 of which is curved in the arc of a circle and is provided with teeth 9. The arm 6 is pivotally mounted on the screw stud 10, and is provided with an upwardly projecting hollow sleeve 11 on which the arm 7 is pivotally mounted, the screw stud 10 passing through this sleeve 11 and through the arm 6, thus locking the arms together and securing them to thelock case.

Projecting from the face of the arm 7 adjacent to the arm (3, are two studs 12 and 13 which latter rest on opposite sides of the lug 14L integral with arm 6. These studs are separated sufficiently to permit of a limited movement of each arm independently of the other, and the stud 12 is normally held in,

contact with the lug 14: by the spring 15, one end of which is secured to arm 6 and the other end to stud 12 on the arm 7, the intermediate portion of the spring being coiled around the cylindrical hub 16 integral with the arm 7 and concentric with the axis of the fence.

When the parts are in position and connected with the bolt, as will be hereinafter explained, the springs 15 tend to hold the arms or members of the fences distended, the ends 5 of the members 6 being against the peripheries of the tumblers, and under tension, so that when the tumblers are turned to bring the gates in line with the end 5 of the fence 6, the said end 5 will be forced into the gates and thus engage the tumblers.

When the fence enters the gates of the tumblers a rotary movement of the latter, in the proper direction, turns the fence on its pivot and retracts the bolt, and a movement of,, tl1e tumblers in the opposite direction first turns the fence in a direction to throw the bolt, and then forces the end 5 of the arm 6 out of the gates and puts the spring 15 under sufiicient tension to again force arm 6 of the fence into the gates when the latter again alines with the end 5 of the arm. Both fences are identical in construction, and the teeth 9 of each mesh with the teeth 17 of pinion 17, which latter is pivotally mounted on the stud 18 carried by the bolt 19. This bolt is located intermediate the two sets of tumblers and their fences, and as before explained may be actuated by either. The teeth of both fences are always in mesh with the pinion, hence if the tumblers of one set be actuated to retract the bolt, its fence will be turned, and the latter engaging the pinion on the bolt, will tend to simply rotate the pinion, but as the pinion is also in engagement with the teeth of the other fence, the latter acts as a rack, hence as the pinion is turned by the actuating fence, its engagement with the teeth of the stationary fence causes it to move in the direction of the length of the bolt and necessarily move the latter. If both fences should be actuated simultaneously the pinion would be pre vented from rotating but would be moved in the direction of movement of the fences.

In. single combination looks it is the universal custom to have the fence rigid, but with sufficient play between the tumblers and bolts to permit one end of the fence, when the tumblers are set up to the proper combination, to drop into the gatings of the tumblers and then be forced into connection with the bolt.

In the present instance, it is desirable, if not essential, that the portions of the two fences which connect with the bolt should always be in engagement with the movable pinion on the latter. This makes it neces sary to provide a certain amount of looseness or lost motion in the fence itself, and this is accomplished by making the fence of two parts yieldingly connected. When the bolt is locked, the member of the fence hear ing against the tumblers is forced outwardly thus compressing the spring, and when the tumblers are set up to the proper combination this tension forces the end of said member into the gatings and into a position to gelengaged by the tumblers to retract the WVhile I have illustrated the tumblers and other mechanism inclosed in one case, I do not confine my invention to such construction, as it is clearly evident that the same result may be accomplished by tumbler mechanism, each inclosed in its own separate case, and connected to a bolt located outside of the tumbler cases.

It is evident that many slight changes might be resorted to in the relative arrange ment of parts shown and described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention hence I would have it understood that I do not wish to confine myself to the exact construction and arrangement of parts herein shown and described, but,

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is

1. In a lock, the combination with a set of revolving tumblers and a bolt, of a yielding fence composed of connected members, one of which engages the tumblers and the other actuates the bolt.

2. In a lock, the combination with a set of revolving tumblers and a bolt, of a fence composed of two members pivotally connected together, and a spring for holdin said members normally distended, one member of said fence engaging the tumblers and the other actuating the bolt.

3. I11 a lock, the combination with a set of revolving tumblers, and a sliding bolt, of a fence composed of two members pivotally connected, means for limiting the independent movement of said members and a spring for normally holding said members distended, one member of said fence engaging the tumblers and the other actuating the bolt.

a. In a lock, the combination with two independent sets of revolving tumblers and a bolt, of a yielding fence for each set of tumblers, each fence being operatively connected with the bolt and engaging its respective set of tumblers.

5. 'In a lock, the combination with two independent sets of revolving tumblers and a bolt common to both sets, of a fence for each set of tumblers, each fence being composed of two members pivotally connected together and a spring for normally holding said members distended, each fence engaging its, re spective tumblers, and also operatively con nected with the bolt.

6. In a lock, the combination with two independent sets of revolving tumblers, a bolt and a pinion pivotally mounted on said bolt, of a fence for each set of tumblers, each fence being composed of members yieldingly connected, the outer end of one member of said fence engaging its tumblers and the outer end of the other member being toothed and meshing with the pinion on the bolt.

7. In a lock the bolt of which is adapted to be operated by two sets of revolving tumblers, the combination with a bolt and tumblers, of a fence for each set of tumblers, fences and the bolt whereby either fence may 10 each fence being composed of yieldingly conoperate the bolt.

nected members, one member of each fence In testimony whereof, I have signed this engaging its respective tumbler and the other specification in the presence of two subscribadapted to actuate the bolt. ing witnesses.

8. In a combination lock, the combination WARREN H. TAYLOR. with two sets of rotary tumblers, and. a bolt, Witnesses: of two fences each made in two parts yield- SOHUYLER MERRrr'r,

ingly connected, and means connecting both WILLIAM P. MOSELY. 

